Family Sponsorship
Alan and staff members on family visits.
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This is the heart of the Franciscan Family Apostolate mission in India. Over one thousand families in dire need receive a stipend provided by sponsors here in the United States. A sponsor pledges a monthly allotment used for basic necessities such as food, clothing and medicines. Assistance is continued until the family is self-sufficient and able to stand on their own. Many, many have been blessed with this ability. The goal is to help families help themselves.
Need is the only criteria without regard to any race or creed. The only concern of the Franciscan Family Apostolate is to help families redeem themselves from the oppression of poverty and destitution.
Our staff visits a prospective family, who has either requested assistance or has been referred to us by some other source, to ascertain their need. At that time a profile of the family is prepared and photos are taken. These are supplied to the new sponsor for their consideration as to the nature of assistance needed. So deep is the poverty that there has always been a backlog of families needing assistance.
Once a family is sponsored, their situation begins to improve dramatically. Sending $25.00 per month greatly increases their income, more than doubling their earnings of approximately $10.00 per month. Periodic staff visits are made to the families to determine how they are moving along, if they have any special needs, and to assist in writing periodic letters to their sponsors.
Additionally, the Apostolate, opens up a bank account for each family to insure the proper transfer of funds and to teach money management as most of the poor families have little concept of fiduciary responsibility.
For more information - see How Sponsorship Works>>
Please Sponsor a Family>>
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